Celtic drop out of the Champions League

Celtic’s 2nd chance at Champions League success fell right at the death as NK Maribor walked away from Parkhead with a surprise 1-0 victory, leaving the 55,000+ Celtic fans in silence and facing a season in the UEFA Europa League.

Of course, worth remembering is the fact that Celtic would have been in the Europa League anyway with football supporters in the 2 camps of ‘rules are rules’ vs ‘Legia should not have been disqualified’. After their hammering against Legia, Celtic blew their chance in front of a packed home stadium but it could have been so different with the home side having the bulk of the good chances.

The minute by minute match report for the game is below.

FT.

90+5′

That’s it, nothing more will happen today. The game is over. This is how football ought to look like. Full of action, thrilling moments and spectacular opportunities. The expectations for the next games will be high. There wasn’t any significant dominance on either side in this game. The home side was creating their opportunities using lightning-fast counter-attacks. The tactic of the away side was slow build-up play

90+5′

Derk Boerrigter (Celtic) and one of his opponents battle for the ball and Derk Boerrigter (Celtic) commits an attacking foul.

90+3′

Agim Ibraimi (Maribor) is flagged offside.

90+3′

Virgil Van Dijk (Celtic) picks up a lofted cross inside the box and unleashes a low shot to the middle of the goal. His promising effort is denied by Jasmin Handanovic (Maribor), who pulls off a decent save!

90+3′

A cross from the side of the pitch flies into the box, but it doesn’t reach its intended target. Derk Boerrigter (Celtic) would have to aim better in order to get more out of it.

Virgil Van Dijk (Celtic) meets a cross just outside the area and gets in a strike from a promising position, but the shot is thwarted by the defender.

90′

There will be a minimum of 4 min. of added time.

90′

Like an avalanche. Jean-Philippe Mendy (Maribor) is penalised for his attacking foul. Viktor Kassai has a clear vision and blows the whistle. Jean-Philippe Mendy (Maribor) is arguing, but the referee’s decision cannot be changed.

89′

The whistle is blown for infringement and Derk Boerrigter (Celtic) receives a yellow card!

88′

Virgil Van Dijk (Celtic) can’t expect anything else than a yellow card for his hard tackle. And a yellow it is. Viktor Kassai doesn’t think twice to pull it out of his pocket.

87′

Marcos Tavares (Maribor) missed an opportunity! After picking up a perfect pass in the box, he has found some space for a shot, but his effort went over the crossbar. The ball is beyond the goal line and Celtic will have a goal kick.

86′

Break in the play with Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) down injured.

85′

A yellow card for a tackle by Marcos Tavares (Maribor). Viktor Kassai doesn’t hesitate at all to make this decision.

Good effort by Kris Commons (Celtic), but his strike only hit a defender. Not a real threat for the goalkeeper.

83′

Substitution. Damjan Bohar (Maribor) replaces Dare Vrsic (Maribor).

82′

Shots on target – 1:5.

80′

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) shows good awareness deep inside the box as he latches on to a cross from the resulting free kick. He jumps high and strikes with a towering header. His attempt lacks a bit more accuracy and flies inches wide of the left-hand post. The ball is beyond the goal line and Maribor will have a goal kick.

79′

Petar Stojanovic (Maribor) is awarded a yellow card for his tackle. He doesn’t seem to agree with the decision, but Viktor Kassai won’t hear any protests. Celtic are awarded a free kick from near the side line. This position calls for a cross into the penalty area, where the players already begin to gather.

79′

It looks like Efe Ambrose (Celtic) was seeing red according to his tackle. Viktor Kassai won’t tolerate such behaviour on the pitch and blows for a foul.

77′

What an amazing save by Craig Gordon (Celtic)! Jean-Philippe Mendy (Maribor) swirls around the defenders and attempts to beat the keeper with a close-range shot towards the left side of the target, but fails.

75′

Goal! Marcos Tavares (Maribor) was in the right place at the right time to get to the rebound inside the box, and he fires the ball into the top right corner. It is 0:1.

75′

What a goal-scoring opportunity! Dare Vrsic (Maribor) makes a good run into the box to meet a cross and fires the ball on goal, but the shot is blocked by a defender with an amazing slide tackle.

74′

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) sprays a pass out to Kris Commons (Celtic), but he produces a poor effort from inside the box. The ball goes well wide of the left post. The ball is beyond the goal line and Maribor will have a goal kick.

73′

A lofted cross into the box, produced by Derk Boerrigter (Celtic), was unsuccessful as the defence made a clearance. The ball is beyond the goal line and Maribor will have a goal kick.

Zeljko Filipovic (Maribor) collects an inch-perfect pass and strikes the ball from far out, but his shot is blocked.

69′

Petar Stojanovic (Maribor) didn’t find any of his teammates inside the box as his pass was blocked.

66′

Dare Vrsic (Maribor) blows a big chance from close range. World class save by the goalkeeper.

66′

Here is a substitution. Jo Inge Berget (Celtic) won’t show us anything more and Adam Matthews (Celtic) comes on.

65′

Kris Commons (Celtic) got rid of the defending players in the middle of the pitch and decided to release a goal-bound effort from about 25 metres out. He was quite precise and the ball missed the crossbar just by inches. The ball is out of the pitch and it’s a goal kick for Maribor.

Viktor Kassai blows the whistle for a foul. Zeljko Filipovic (Maribor) hacks down one of his opponents.

62′

Marko Suler (Maribor) violates the rules with his agressive tackle, and Viktor Kassai is given no other option than to signal for a set piece.

61′

Charlie Mulgrew (Celtic) releases a rebound from the edge of the box. He doesn’t manage to get the ball through the players standing between him and the goal.

61′

Jo Inge Berget (Celtic) connects with a pass but sees a shot from the edge of the box blocked.

61′

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) launches the ball from the resulting corner, but one of the defenders is first to the ball and averts the threat.

60′

Callum McGregor (Celtic) can’t slip the ball through and the move breaks down. The ball is out of bounds. A goal-scoring opportunity from a corner for Celtic.

58′

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) takes the corner kick but the ball finds only the head of an opponent.

57′

Jo Inge Berget (Celtic) sends a pass into the box, but his attempt is thwarted and cleared. The ball goes behind for a corner. Celtic will have an opportunity to endanger the opposition’s goal.

56′

Callum McGregor (Celtic) latches on to an accurate pass inside the box and immediately releases a shot towards the net. What a pity! His bullet shot crashes against the opponent’s crossbar. It could be a nice goal.

55′

Anthony Stokes (Celtic) takes a long-range free kick and whips it into the box. The goalkeeper reads it well and leaps high to intercept the ball.

54′

Aleksander Rajcevic (Maribor) is yellow-carded.

54′

Efe Ambrose (Celtic) fires the ball from a mid-range free kick, but the effort goes just wide of the right post. The ball is out of the pitch and it’s a goal kick for Maribor.

52′

Viktor Kassai shows a yellow card to Marko Suler (Maribor) who can’t be surprised because his tackle was really hard.

51′

Dare Vrsic (Maribor) swings in the corner kick, but one of the defenders leaps into the air and clears the ball away with a header.

51′

Ales Mertelj (Maribor) fails to send a pass into the box. His effort is cut out. The ball is out of bounds. Maribor win a corner kick.

48′

The main referee Viktor Kassai is apparently not going to tolerate any discussions. Kris Commons (Celtic) is given a yellow card for talking.

47′

Jo Inge Berget (Celtic) was in a good opportunity when he latched on to a cross from the side, but his strike isn’t accurate at all and the ball goes well wide of the left post. The ball is out of the pitch and it’s a goal kick for Maribor.

46′

Everything is ready for the beginning of the second half, and it happened.

46′

The manager has decided to make a substitution during the half-time break. Kris Commons (Celtic) comes on the pitch for Biram Kayal (Celtic).

45+2′

Let’s hope the players will show us more in the second half as the first one has been rather ordinary, without a plenty of goalscoring opportunities. We can’t say that one of the teams enjoyed any superiority over the first half. The home team’s main weapon are fast counter-attacks, while the away side attempts to hold onto the ball for as long as possible.

45+2′

The first half of today’s match has just finished.

45′

Fourth official shows 1 min. of added time.

44′

Jo Inge Berget (Celtic) attempted to create a dangerous situation in front of the goal by putting a cross into the box, but the outcome differed from his intention, and no danger occurred. The ball is out of the pitch and it’s a goal kick for Maribor.

42′

Viktor Kassai blows the whistle. Ales Mertelj (Maribor) brings one of his opponents down with a harsh tackle.

41′

Long passes, short passes and one-two passes. Celtic are showcasing great team work by keeping possession and producing pin-point passes from player to player. For the opposition’s players it’s very difficult to intercept at the moment.

38′

Jo Inge Berget (Celtic) dispossess an opponent, but the referee blows his whistle, and a free kick is given.

35′

Jasmin Handanovic (Maribor) hears fans clapping for his superb goalkeeping. He stops the effort from Callum McGregor (Celtic) from the edge of the box with a magnificent save, which would have ended inside the bottom right corner.

35′

Ales Mertelj (Maribor) had a good opportunity as he fired from long range. His shot was directed towards the middle of the goal, but Craig Gordon (Celtic) was alert and made a comfortable save.

35′

This corner kick is taken with a short pass by Dare Vrsic (Maribor).

35′

Corner kick, taken by Dare Vrsic (Maribor), is headed out of the penalty area by one of the defenders. Maribor have a corner.

34′

The free kick is taken by Dare Vrsic (Maribor), but the delivery it’s cleared. The referee signals for a corner kick, Maribor are awarded.

Craig Gordon (Celtic) shows his superb goalkeeping as he pulls off a great save to stop the effort from Marcos Tavares (Maribor). He got to a rebounded shot in front of the goal and sent the ball low towards the middle of the goal, but he couldn’t beat the keeper.

29′

Mitja Viler (Maribor) wastes a great scoring opportunity! He receives a precise lofted cross inside the box and sends a quick low shot, aiming to the middle of the goal. His effort lacks pace and that allows Craig Gordon (Celtic) to deny it with a comfortable save.

28′

The horde of the players waited inside the penalty area for a cross from the corner, but Dare Vrsic (Maribor) takes it with a short pass.

28′

Agim Ibraimi (Maribor) collects a pass on the edge of the box and unleashes a shot which is brilliantly blocked by a defender. The ball is out of play. Maribor manage to earn a corner.

27′

Mitja Viler (Maribor) found some space to play in a lofted pass, but it didn’t meet his expactations as none of his teammates managed to connect with it, and thus his effort was in vain.

26′

Viktor Kassai makes a call. Efe Ambrose (Celtic) comitted a foul as he was too aggressive in the battle for the ball.

24′

Virgil Van Dijk (Celtic) shows good awareness inside the box to meet a delightful cross from the free kick. He fails to direct the ball into the net as it flies narrowly wide of the right post. The ball is beyond the goal line and Maribor will have a goal kick.

23′

It’s going to be a corner kick. Anthony Stokes (Celtic) will try to put the ball on a teammate’s head.

23′

Callum McGregor (Celtic) swings in a cross, but the ball is cleared to safety by one of the defending players. Now Celtic with a corner.

22′

Agim Ibraimi (Maribor) collects a pass and has an effort from distance which is blocked.

21′

Maribor keep the ball and are exchanging a combination of passes. They are waiting for the right moment to find a gap through the defence.

18′

Zeljko Filipovic (Maribor) sprays a pass out to Agim Ibraimi (Maribor), but he can’t beat his man to get to the ball.

17′

Viktor Kassai blows his whistle. Who will be penalised? Now it is clear. Jo Inge Berget (Celtic) is said to have used an excessive force while attacking.

16′

Marcos Tavares (Maribor) receives a sweet pass inside the box, but his effort on goal is blocked by the defender.

15′

What an opportunity! Agim Ibraimi (Maribor) picked the ball up and fired a projectile of a shot from long range which threatened the goalkeeper. The shot went painfully close to the right post! The ball is out of the pitch and it’s a goal kick for Celtic.

14′

A pass, produced by Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic), ends up in the no man’s land, and the attacking effort comes to an end.

13′

One of the defending players blocks a long-range shot which was unleashed by Callum McGregor (Celtic).

11′

Marko Suler (Maribor) played too fiercely and breached the rules with his tackle. The referee Viktor Kassai didn’t miss it and blew his whistle.

10′

Another attempt to quickly send the ball beyond the defence by Ales Mertelj (Maribor) is averted and cleared away to safety.

8′

Callum McGregor (Celtic) came with a sweet piledriver. He controlled a pass, glanced at the goal and fired from the edge of the box. It could have been a difficult one for the keeper, but he only hit one of the defenders off whom the ball bounced away.

7′

Maribor are happy showing off their ball keeping skills and that is only interrupted when the defender steps in. The ball is out of play. Maribor will take a throw-in.

5′

The corner from Anthony Stokes (Celtic) is hurriedly cleared.

5′

Jo Inge Berget (Celtic) attempts to find his teammate with a pass from outside the box, but the opposition’s defence is quick to react and thwarts the attack. Celtic win a corner.

3′

Zeljko Filipovic (Maribor) with a through ball which would have led to a great opportunity, if it hadn’t been stopped by the defence.

1′

Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic) found some space to dink a cross from the side into the box, but it would have to be more precise to threaten the opponent.

1′

Today’s match has just started, enjoy yourself!

The starting XIs were already announced and you can go through them in the Lineups section.

Today’s referee will be Viktor Kassai.

Welcome to our minute-by-minute commentary of today’s clash. You can enjoy a written form of everything important that will be happening on the pitch. Have fun.